Sam Fender has given the complete sum of his £25k honor winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to save the United Kingdom's small live music spots.
He was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his new release the album was chosen as the best record of the last 12 months.
Fender has decided to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his early career.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing this success if it weren't for all the gigs I did around the area, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated Sam Fender. "These venues are renowned, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which benefits independent venues.
He also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to help numerous grassroots venues across Britain.
The donation helped spaces that were dealing with imminent closure due to issues stemming from water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and sound issues.
Other venues received financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and gear that helped musicians and audiences.
"The concept that money from shows in big venues backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has said.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.
Back when they received the prize in the year 1996 for their album the album, vocalist Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would give their winnings to the charity the charity.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite split her award among multiple good causes, such as the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite told a publication.
In recent years, Ezra Collective donated their prize money to the youth organization that developed their group, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Also 1994 winners the group contributed their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the condition.
"Winning was ample," remarked artist the singer. "The cash was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our winning impacted another person's life."
In the past week, the trust announced it had protected a couple of local spots in that region, by placing them under local control.
The Joiners in the city and the other in the city were acquired under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by a national body and supporters who buy "stakes" in the buildings.
